A teenager is preparing to climb Mount Everest and become the youngest person to have scaled the tallest peaks on each of the seven continents.

On top of the world… almost: George Atkinson, 16, climbing Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, in Alaska (Picture: SWNS)

George Atkinson has covered 34,474m (113,103ft) in his quest, including reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania when he was 11.

He plans to climb Everest – the highest peak at 8,848m (29,029ft) – in Nepal in early June, shortly after his 17th birthday.

George, of Surbiton in south-west London, said: ‘This kind of challenge gives you an amazing sense of achievement when you finish. I do have some fears about climbing Everest but my plan is to take them in my stride.’

The Seven Summits record holder is American Johnny Collinson, who completed the task aged 17 years and 296 days.